2018
Katherine
Customer Service Awards

Awards Night

About The Awards

The Chamber of Commerce NT is proud to present the annual Customer Service Awards, culminating in our Awards night on October 22nd; a much anticipated part of the October Business Month.

These awards provide an opportunity to recognise and reward the hardworking individuals and businesses who provide excellence in customer service. We celebrate and reward excellent customer service offered by Business, Not for Profits, Government organisations, individuals and Young Customer Service Champions (18 - 25 years). These Awards are open to any organisation that provides service to customers, not simply retail trade.

This event highlights the importance of customer service and encourages businesses and staff to strive to exceed customers’ expectations.

The nomination process is customer generated, judged by a small independent panel, the process is kept simple by way of nomination forms which are accessible to the public.

The awards will be launched on the 4th July 2016 and forms will be available online, or at local businesses and CCNT Katherine. Awards will be presented on 22nd October.

Upon arrival at 6.30pm guests will receive a complimentary cocktail and will have a photo under the stars by our on site photographer, this will be followed by drinks, canapés and entertainment by local artists throughout the evening.

With guest speaker John Robinson, better known to most as Foxy, to tell his story of his raise from the local Meatworks to the millions.

THESTORYOFTHEFOX

Foxy made a decision to move to the Territory and arrived in Katherine in 1965 to work in the newly opened Abattoirs this he believed was one of several major decisions that would change his life for the better, Foxy worked in the slaughter house on and off for 15 years it was hard work but he said there was great camaraderie and we all earned a good quid. I now employ some of my old mates from those days. Katherine then was a small town of only 1,700 people, but now houses a population of 10,000 and home to RAAF base Tindal.

After working at the local Meatworks Foxy then took on management of the Katherine Town Pool for a period of three years, he said the first year was a bit of a shock working the whole year, as the meatworks only ran for 6 months of the year. The family saved hard and moved to Perth for four years to try out the retail trade but this didn’t work out, so the family came back to Katherine. Subsequently, the Robinson’s and a partner bought Katherine Red Gum Caravan Park and Foxy has been in the accommodation business ever since.

From Katherine he moved into the Darwin market with the purchase of Palms Village Resort and Hidden Valley Tourist Resort. During these years he was also involved in a myriad of smaller successful operations.

By the late 1990’s to the early 2000’s it became obvious to Foxy that Darwin was about to experience major projects that the town was ill equipped for when it came to available accommodation. It was then he decided that he would construct workers camps to accommodate staff during the life of major projects. He was successful in housing the Darwin based staff associated with construction of the Alice Springs to Darwin railway as well as the construction workers associated with the Construction of the Conoco Phillips LNG Gas Plant.

Buoyed by his successes as an owner and operator Foxy decided to take a big risk and build a hotel at Darwin Airport. He went on to construct the Darwin Airport Resort, a 181 room 4.5 star hotel. After the outstanding success of this property he went on to build the Darwin Airport Inn which comprises 136 accommodation rooms and is also a 4.5 star property. These properties were sold in June 2011 to a Sydney investment group and are now run under the Rydges banner.

Foxy has developed a parcel of land on Channel Island Road that has a total of 1500 accommodation rooms. 50% of the rooms are leased to the Department of Immigration and the other 50% are leased to JKC, the construction company tasked with project managing the Ichthys LNG Project. In addition Foxy also owns two luxury hotels in Broome and Kununurra.

In late 2015 he finalised the construction of a 200 room 4.5 Star hotel in Palmerston. He awarded the Management Rights to this hotel to Rydges Australia.

Foxy has been always been an avid supporter of people “having a go”. He also is acutely aware that not everybody has the ability to be successful in business, and those who are, should share their prosperity with those in need. In 2016 Foxy was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his support of charities, sporting groups, individual plights and non-for-profit organisations.

Why sponsor the 2016 Katherine Customer Service Awards?

As an official sponsor of the Customer Service awards your organisation is demonstrating its commitment to customer service which will enhance Katherine in the eyes of visitors and residents alike. The Awards ceremony itself and publicity surrounding the gala presentations will provide an opportunity to highlight your organisation’s vision and commitment to providing the Katherine Region community with the best skilled practises. Sponsorship packs are available to download online, or on request from the Chamber Executive Officer Ms Sue Jones on 89723830 or katherine@chambernt.com.au.